A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali has sentenced three students from Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a 2018 case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Details of the Conviction
The convicts have been identified as Zahid Gulzar, Yasir Rafiq Bhat, and Mohammed Idris Shah. The court found them guilty of criminal conspiracy, offences under the UAPA, and violations of the Explosives Act. The three have been in judicial custody since their arrest on October 10, 2018.
However, the court acquitted another accused, Suhail Ahmed Bhat, after determining that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges framed against him.
Background of the Case
The case pertains to the recovery of arms, ammunition, and explosives from the hostel of CT Institution's Shahpur campus in Jalandhar on October 10, 2018. Police had arrested the accused following a raid conducted on the premises.
According to the prosecution, the accused were allegedly planning to carry out unlawful activities and were associated with the terrorist outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH). Investigators alleged that the trio had been receiving funds to further the organisation's activities and were attempting to recruit other students from the institution into the group.
Investigation and Evidence
Punjab Police had registered FIR No. 166/2018 at Sadar police station, Jalandhar, and launched an investigation into the case. During the raid, police recovered an AK rifle along with two magazines and 54 live cartridges, a Mauser pistol with two magazines and 31 live rounds, and approximately one kilogram of explosive material.
The investigation further revealed that accused Yasir Rafiq Bhat, who is related to former AGH chief Zakir Musa, allegedly played a key role in procuring the explosive material and motivating Kashmiri students at the institution to join the outfit and participate in its unlawful activities.
This sentencing underscores the legal system's efforts to address terrorism-related activities and the involvement of youth in extremist networks. The court's decision serves as a significant step in the ongoing battle against unlawful activities in the region.
